Critical+Analysis+of+I,+Too


 * Are you America? ** Eden Alin

Living in a nation where everyone was told they were equal as the Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”, poet Langston Hughes saw the truth behind it all. Being an African American in the United States during the early 1900’s was difficult, and many lived a life full of hardships. Even so, Langston Hughes found a positive twist in this life full of suffering and managed to create inspiring poetry. In his poem //I, Too// Hughes describes the way African American domestic servants are treated when guests arrive at the owner’s home. They are denied the opportunity of eating with everyone else and are sent to the kitchen just as in their everyday lives they are denied the opportunity at the larger American table. Hughes uses his frustration with this situation to create optimistic and patriotic poetry as a way to mentally overcome the country’s racism and have hope for a better future. The poem begins with Hughes stating that, “I, too, sing America/ I am the darker brother” demonstrating that he and many African Americans like him also sing the national anthem and have every right to the freedom it represents. Singing also represents their voice in this nation and their promising hope for freedom in the future. But when company arrives at the house, Hughes is dismissed to the kitchen. While others may pity themselves and feel humiliated by this kind of behavior from their so called masters, Hughes abides it and stays full of confidence. He says, "But I laugh,/ And eat well,/ And grow strong" showing that nobody can rain on his parade and there is a better day awaiting him. He knows that the future for African Americans is becoming brighter and brighter each and every day. He is taking all that he can from this bad situation and growing stronger rather than weaker. In the next stanza he uses metaphor and strong imagery to get his point across saying, "Tomorrow,/ I'll be at the table/ When company comes". The table may be referring to the free America and how he is sure he will be a part of it. He believes that one day in the near future African Americans will be respected and "Nobody'll dare/ Say to me,/`Eat in the kitchen`/Then". Hughes finishes up the poem with poise pronouncing, "Besides,/ They'll see how beautiful I am" and by this he means people will not only see the color of his skin, but the beauty and capability he has on the inside. Hughes ends the poem by again stating, "I, too, am America" showing his true pride and ownership of a country that was never very hospitable to him. Hughes uses an array of poetic techniques to convey his message to the reader. He repeats the line "I, too" in the beginning and end to have a sense of closure and show a direct point in the matter. The use of punctuation and spacing is extremely abundant in this poem, and structure is obviously very thought out. By creating many pauses, the seriousness of the poem is taken in and every word sinks into the readers mind. Hughes creates imagery by talking about a place that everyone is familiar with. "They send me to eat in the kitchen" generates a mental picture of a black man having to obey a white owner in this large, rich home where he is treated unjustly. As in many of his poems, Langston Hughes, takes a difficult situation and keeps an optimistic perception on the issue. It is because of people like him that African Americans gained their freedom, people who never stopped believing, people who had hope even in the darkest of days. The color of his skin did not stop Hughes from fighting against the hate and discrimination that existed in his life. His poetry was a way to boost his peoples pride and argue against racial injustice in the United States. Langston Hughes’ attitude towards life demonstrates how important it is to look at the glass half full rather than half empty